Background

The LED Grow Book: Second Edition, authored by the famous indoor gardening consultant Christopher Sloper, is by far the best informative publication you’ll ever encounter regarding LED lights as of today. In this book, Sloper shares his insights that are rooted in several years of research and experience.

Source: amazon.com

In this book, LED grow lights are treated to be the most amazing lighting tech to hit the indoor gardening industry in ten years. It does more than explaining how these lights work; it also teaches readers how to select LEDs, feed plants, control pests, etc.

Source: amazon.com

It’s a must-read book for anyone who’s darn serious about growing plants indoors. Even if you don’t want to use LED grow lights, you’ll still get a lot of info about indoor gardening in this book.

Here are the benefits you’ll get from reading this book:

You’ll be able to avoid expensive mistakes

You can design the ideal grow room

You’ll be enlightened about the myths surrounding indoor gardening

You’ll have greater yields with less energy

You can cultivate healthier plants that are pest-resistant

A Sneak Peak

It also speaks of the relationship of LEDs and photosynthesis.

In this section, Sloper elucidates how LED grow lights permit photosynthesis to occur. He even explains light signaling for inducing flowering, how the various light ways influence the photoperiod, the chemistry of photosynthesis, and the growth characteristics.

The book also includes LED Grow Light Designs.

Sloper also thoroughly discusses the four types of LED designs: LED light heads, single-surface LED grow lights, tube-style LED bars, and clusters/rosettes. He even adds the pros and cons of each type, as well as the factors you have to consider when you want to buy a particular design.

It dispelled myths that surround LED grow lights.

In this book, he also busts down the most popular myths about LED grow lights such as the misconception that lumens are proportional to photosynthesis. Sloper also discusses the concept of photosynthetic photo flux density (PPFD) which is the correct method to describes the number of PAR photons hitting a given surface of a plant at any point, anytime.

Aside from this fallacy, he also dispels myths regarding the benefits of LEDs and makes clarifies the arguments around LED lights.

It discusses LED emitters.

Sloper also states that not all LED emitters are equal; they differ because of the manufacturer. According to him, you’ll know if the manufacturer is after cost savings or emitter quality if you pay attention to the BIN codes.

Banana-Kale Smoothie

Instruction: Put all the ingredients in your top-quality blender and puree until the texture’s smooth!

Banana-Spinach Smoothie

Servings: 2

Calories: 205

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of fresh spinach leaves

1 banana sliced into chunks

1 cup of grapes

1/2 apple, cored and sliced

6 oz. of tub vanilla yogurt

Instructions: Put all of the ingredients in the blender. Stop frequently in order to push down any ingredient stuck to the insides of your blender. Blend until creamy.

Green Monster Smoothie

Servings: 4

Calories: 94

Ingredients:

1 banana, sliced into chunks

1 lemon (juiced)

1 lime (juiced)

1 orange, peeled and separated

1/2 cup of water

10 fresh mint leaves

2 cups of baby spinach leaves

3 cups of ice cubes

7 oz. of crushed pineapple

Instruction: Place all the ingredients in your blender and blend for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Indulge right away!

3-Ingredient Vegan Smoothie

Serving: 1

Calories: 257

Ingredients:

1 cup of plain soy milk

1 large banana, sliced

3/4 cup of packed fresh spinach leaves

Instructions: Put the milk and spinach in your blender and blend them until smooth. Add the banana and blend all the ingredients again.

Breakfast Smoothie

Servings: 4

Calories: 151

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 cored apple

1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped

1 lemon (juiced)

1 peeled and pitted avocado

½ diced cucumber

2 cups of ice

2 cups of water

2 oz. of baby spinach leaves

2 stalks of celery

Instructions: Put the romaine lettuce, avocado, cucumber, celery, water, spinach, and lemon juice in your blender. Set your blender on high and blend until smooth (that’s about 30 seconds). Add the apple, banana, and apple, and puree all ingredients for half a minutes again. Drink immediately.

Green to be Lean Smoothie

Servings: 4

Calories: 86

Ingredients:

1 cup of green grapes

1 peeled and sliced cucumber

1 sprig of fresh mint

3 cups of ice cubes

3 cups of peeled, seeded, and cubed honeydew melon

Optional: 1/2 cup of broccoli florets

Instructions: Puree all the ingredients until creamy. Pour into glasses and serve!